Janoris Jenkins is a smooth, natural man-to-man defender. He can turn his hips and run with elite receivers. While at Florida, he effectively covered the likes of Julio Jones and Alshon Jeffery, receivers who were several inches taller and far thicker than Jenkins. Jenkins loses very little speed when cutting and gets into good position when defending deep passes. He can jump routes in front of him and undercuts routes over the middle of the field.
Janoris Jenkins is willing to throw his body around. He slices through blockers to get involved in tackles on wide receiver screens. He anticipates running plays and is willing to charge into position, set the edge, and engage a blocker, even if that blocker swallows him whole. Jenkins uses his speed well when blitzing off the edge, though he could show a little more urgency when flushing the quarterback. Jenkins has good hands and could be effective in the return game. He is quick and nifty with the ball in his hands.
You can read hundreds of police reports and small-town newspaper accounts of players getting into trouble on their school campus, at the local bar, or while driving down Rural Route 66. About 90 percent of them are best written off as youthful transgressions. Then you come across a prospect who was arrested three times for marijuana possession, twice in the span of four months following the 2010 season. His second arrest prompted new Florida head coach Will Muschamp to kick him off the team, leading to Jenkins’ transfer to North Alabama. He was then ejected for throwing a punch at a Delta State player on October 13 and had to sit out the first half of UNA’s next game (West Alabama). Jenkins’ also found time to father four children with three different women. Not sure how to classify this information.
After being dismissed by new Florida coach Will Muschamp following a second charge involving marijuana, Jenkins finished his career at North Alabama last season. He might have qualified for the NFL supplemental draft last year, but preferred to take time to rehabilitate his off-field image and a shoulder injury so pro scouts would judge him more on his on-field abilities. And pro scouts think his on-field ability is extraordinary. Jenkins has that rare combination of instincts, quickness and agility needed to be a truly great cover cornerback. Scouts at the Senior Bowl likened his play to that of several-time All-Pro Asante Samuel (Philadelphia Eagles). Jenkins flashed his talents in 2010 at Florida when he held two players selected in the top six of last year’s draft to an average of 38 yards a game — Georgia’s A. J. Green (No. 4 pick, Cincinnati Bengals) and Alabama’s Julio Jones (No. 6 pick, Atlanta Falcons. At the Scouting Combine he was unofficially clocked at 4.46 seconds in 40 yards. He should be able to step in immediately and cover those pesky slot receivers as well as help as a punt returner.